Category Archives: Events

The Teacher’s Teacher

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Last Sunday, I got a double-treat: my teacher, Adam Hsu, is in town for a couple of weeks and I had the opportunity to not only see and spend time with him, but to make his Long Fist Kung Fu class available to my own students, most of whom had never met him. Of course, there is always a bit of trepidation presenting your students to your teacher: will they look good to another and more experienced eye? Will my teacher take me aside and, without sarcasm, ask what the hell I have been teaching them? Will my students look … Continue reading →

Workshop Report: The Fine Art of Choking

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A demonstration and workshop on the fine art of choking was a change in schedule for the Saturday morning Kung Fu class last week. Black sash instructor, Mike Gruber—highly knowledgeable about Kung Fu, and an expert Judo player—opened the class, demonstrating basic chokes and strangles (not the same thing). He explained that knowing how to execute chokes would render them much less worrisome for the recipient. At first everyone looked around, nervously, to see who would volunteer to be the first victim. But, once we started practicing the clear and safe instruction offered by Mike, everyone breathed easier. Next we … Continue reading →

Martial Arts and Feng Shui

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Traditional kung fu schools are not known for being pretty. Most martial artists can report a long history of working out night after night in basements, garages, parking lots, and warehouses. I taught my first Tai Chi class 30 years ago in a high school cafeteria. My current Tai Chi sword class meets on the basketball court at the park, which we often share with local kids shooting hoops. None of these places would make it into the coffee table books that highlight model feng shui homes—you know the ones, with their cascading water features, peaceful gardens, meandering paths, and … Continue reading →

Arts of the Academy

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Congratulations to Steve Strasnick, longtime Academy student, who recently attended the 22nd Annual Chinese Martial Arts Tournament, on March 15, in Berkeley. Steve won the Internal Style Men’s Division by performing a number of styles, including Taijiquan and Bagua Zhang. Check our bulletin board in the school vestibule for postings on upcoming tournaments and events.

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Black Belt Award

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No one could have been more surprised than Marcus McDonough, friday night last when, in the middle of the workout class, instructor John Ottenberg announced that he was awarding to Marcus the black belt. As John and Sifu Ted Mancuso both expressed, Marcus’s ability to change, reach for new skills, and practice hard with understanding makes him, in instructor Ottenberg’s eyes, black belt material.

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Footage: Our Half and Half Seminar

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Here’s some video and teachings from our last unique seminar where teachers John Ottenberg and Ted Mancuso show a traditional Praying Mantis form then “deconstruct” it to reveal its fighting essence. A great turnout and a lot of fun… Making the Martial Arts Whole Again Seminar #1 And if you missed this one in December, be sure to join us in January for the NEW half and half seminar.

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We Are Going To Read A Book!

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Hello fellow students: We are initiating our Academy book group with “Secrets of The Tai Chi Circle”. This is the book recommended by Sifu. Here is what is said about the book on the Plum Publishing website: “Told as a novel, this entertaining tale offers insights into not only the principles of T’ai Chi and Taoism, but the relationship of instructor to student in this ancient tradition.” At least that’s what we wrote over three years ago when we first listed this book. Then it almost immediately went out of print. But it’s back – and now it’s personal. We … Continue reading →

Academy Vacation Time

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The Academy will be taking vacation for a couple weeks in August: We’ll be teaching classes on Thursday, August 2, and then will return for classes on Saturday, August 18. (We will be gone August 3 – August 17.) For students, please continue to make your monthly payment; we will provide plenty of opportunity to make up the time and also will offer some special events! Also, this will not affect the Five Animal Frolics Qigong seminar, which will still take place on Sunday, August 5! Hope to see some of you at the seminar, and enjoy your time off!

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Learning Bagua Zhang: The Book!

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We are proud to announce the publication of Sifu Ted Mancuso’s newest book, Learning Bagua Zhang: The Martial Art of Change. Years of study and teaching have gone into this extensively photographed companion to his best-selling DVD on Bagua. Using narrative instruction, Sifu Mancuso presents a complete course for anyone wanting to learn or deepen their Bagua practice. Click HERE for more details, and to purchase.

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